Well, it's over for another year. I'm hijacking my own
previous thread so I can change the title. Why? Because we
were really honoured to have Nathan fly all the way from the
US to race solo for 24hrs! Nathan is the inspiration behind
many of my previous unicycle tours and adventures so it was
really cool to finally meet him.
The 'Cateye Moonride' (moonride.co.nzmoonride.co.nzOpen ↗)
mountainbike race was held in Rotorua, a small and rather
smelly town in the middle of New Zealand (due to it's
location in an active geothermal area and the gentle aroma
of hydrogen sulphide). It is also venue for the 2006 MTB
world champs.
The big news of the year was that Nathan Hoover was joining
us for this race. Not only that, he was going race solo for
24hrs! And not only that, Nathan is doing three 24hr races
in three different countries in 15 days!
24hr racing is fun, but going solo? I liken it to
childbirth. Whilst being unfortunately not able to
experience that first hand (except my own, which I was too
young to remember)- I can say that my 24hr solo ride last
year was probably the most painful thing I had ever done.
Ever! Yet exactly a year later I'd forgotten the pain and
here I was doing it again. This time with another unicycle
masochist at the start line- Nathan Hoover; and two 24hr 5-
man unicycle teams.
Anyway, some of the events and times are a little fuzzy now
(especially when I was delirious around about 3pm on Saturday)-
but it went something like this:
Thursday 6 May:
All packed and ready I drive to Rotorua with a carful of
unicycles and enough batteries to power up a small factory.
I arrive at about 4pm at the Biers house (Peter Biers
parents Hank and Judy live in Rotorua). They were a great
support throughout the event- sheltering 12 unicyclists in
their home, feeding and watering us out on the course, and
just being an awesome host to our band of unicyclists.
I head out for a quick spin on the course but as it was
still to be marked I rode only a short section on my Coker.
The rain from the last few days made for some slippery bits
but the singletrack was looking as good as ever.
As I came out of the forest I bumped into Mr Hoover. "Hey
you must be Ken!" "You must be Nathan" "Yep- how did you
know?" (Looks at 36' unicycle) Hmmm...that's a big wheel-
looks like mine in fact :p Shortly after Murray the event
organiser spots us and comes over to tell us we're mad (or
words to that effect which I won't repeat here).
Friday 7 May:
We head off for a quick spin on the course when Joe Dyson
and Pete Marchant (Pete66) arrive from Wellington. The
course was about 95% singletrack- with a couple of short 4WD
sections and a transition zone. Whilst it was fairly flat
and rolling- I knew it was going to be tough. Every year I'd
raced here (even when I was on two wheels) the course
hammered me more than any other. No hills equals nowhere to
rest; and the constant twisting and turning meant your mind
had to be focused to ride this course.
We had lunch where Joe and Pete carboload with vanilla ice
cream and coke. Nathan and I opt for the pasta.
Late afternoon- our support crew arrive. Blair the chief
wrech from 'Johnsonville Cycles'
(mountainbike.co.nzjvilleOpen ↗) (my LBS) and
Benny (all round good guy, hangs around at the bike shop)
and Allison- Blairs partner and 12hr Soloist, arrive in
Rotorua in the Campervan. They were going to support us Solo
guys, whilst the unicycle teams were crewing their own.
10pm: We're off! Nathan and I start alongside Rowan (posts
on RSU as Rowan) and Peter Bier (Peter_Bier) from the
Moonride Monoride teams. The plan was to stay together but
Peter Bier slows down to talk to the two solo ladybugs
whilst the three of us sped off.
Lap 2 and I was feeling really good- knocked off a sub 30min
lap (+1min at support zone). Still feeling pretty good I
knocked off a few more quick laps and lapped both teams.
Sat 8 May:
2-6am (The Zombie Zone) Not feeling so good anymore- this is
probably the worst time for any soloist- the body clock
shuts down and all you want to do is go to sleep. Nathan
looks a little worse for wear, I feel no better. Blair and
Benny force-feed us and make us drink to stay hydrated.
6am The cortisol kicks in and I try to get in a few quick
laps before the 12hr racers start. I bonk myself silly but
managed to wobble back to camp thanks to the Leppin Squeezee
in my back pocket. No sign of Nathan- I was getting worried.
I had to stop for a 40min break despite telling myself not
to. Headed off later feeling much better.
10am The 12hr racers start. The course gets a bit crowded.
12pm Rowan: "How did you find the course?"
Me: : (grunt) Rowan: "Have you tried your 29'er yet?"
Mf: (Ugh) Rowan: "How did you find your light?"
Mg:Rowan: "Did you ride that big rutted bit near the middle
of the course?"
Mh:Rowan: "You must be knackered"
Mi:etc etc etc.
2pm I bawl my eyes out. "Sob...*sniff*sniff* I can't do it
anymore!!!" Nathan is wrapped in a warm blanket and
getting psyched up by Blair. Eat that, drink this, and get
back out there!
3pm I get paranoid and throw a tanty when someone moves my
seatpost up 2cm higher than it should be. Sorry about that-
it's no big deal but I was very [censored] at the time 😠
4pm Nathan lies asleep/unconscious in the campervan. We get
back out in the sun. It's apparently a very warm day. Our
teeth chatter uncontrollably- it's freezing!
6pm I take a quick nap and wake up feeling much better.
Fresh mind pushing a tired body. Better than tired mind,
fresh body.
8pm I take that back- fresh mind pushing tired body= body
shutdown. My race is over :o
10pm Ohh...shower. We were driven back to the Biers house to
be refreshed (luxury) before heading back for prizegiving.
Sunday 9 May:
Nothing better than a nice relaxing day chilling out with
fellow unicyclists swapping war stories. We soak in the hot
pools before heading home :p
All in all a great weekend and (dare I say it) I've
forgotten how painful it was already. Maybe I'll come back
next year. Then again.....
Big thanks to: Blair, Benny and Allison (our 24hr support
crew) The Biers J'ville cycles Unicycle.com NZ The Moonride
Monoride teams The organises Murray and Ingrid for another
great event Nathan Hoover for coming to NZL to do this!
Seeya next year!
Ken Looi
--
GizmoDuck - Adventure unicyclist
o-kO
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GizmoDuck's Profile: unicyclist.com794Open ↗
View this thread: unicyclist.com32377Open ↗